Caribou hosts an invitational cross country meet every year, but this year’s competition had a different twist.
In Saturday’s event, which included more than 250 athletes from 13 different schools, 16 separate races were held. All the girls’ No. 1 runners raced against each other, followed by No. 2s all the way down to No. 7s. The boys followed the same format, while JV boys and girls races also took place to cap a busy day of running at Caribou High School.
Contributed photo/Laurie Sheehan
Dayna Sue Michaud was victorious in her race at Saturday’s Caribou Invitational.
The John Bapst girls and the Caribou boys were the meet champions.
In the girls event, Lady Viking Hannah Saunders was third overall in the first race in 18:13.81 on the 2.73-mile course.
Dayna Michaud and Mary Jo Sheehan were the winners in races two and three, respectively. Michaud’s time was 18:04.8, while Sheehan crossed the line in 18:18.84.
Katelynn Plourde was fourth in 19:30.09 in the fourth race, while Ashley Clark was fifth in race five in 20:16.09, Kaysie Pelletier second in race six in 20:05.75 and Kelly Kashian first in race seven in 20:44.04.
Caribou scored a total of eight points, just one behind John Bapst but ahead of Mount Desert Island (10), Presque Isle (19), Ellsworth, Foxcroft Academy, Mattanawcook, Old Town, Hermon, Limestone/MSSM and Orono.
Fort Kent and Greater Houlton Christian Academy also had runners compete, but not enough to figure in the team standings.
For the boys, Caribou’s Steve Melbourne was fourth in the first race in 15:38.36, while Christian Sleeper (15:55.60), Tim Freme (15:57.13), Finn Bondeson (15:33.83) and Jacob Michaud (16:35.35) all won their events in races two through five, respectively.
In race six, Chris Nadeau was second in 17:06.7, while Zac Foster was the runner-up in race seven with a 17:20.47 clocking.
“The boys worked very hard on the course,” said Caribou coach Roy Alden. “It was great to see Jake, Chris and Zac step it up. They held off an Ellsworth charge in the late races to allow us to win.”
Alden also heaped praise on Bondeson, who while running the fourth race still compiled the fastest time among Viking runners on the tough, hilly course.
Robbie Kiehn mustered a top-five finish in the boys’ JV race, with a time of 17:27.47.
Limestone is scheduled to host the All-Aroostook selection meet today.
A Penobscot Valley Conference league meet is slated for Saturday in Orono.
Contributed photo/Beth Alden
Jacob Michaud leads a pack of runners in the early stages of his race during the Caribou Invitational Cross Country Meet. Michaud was the winner of his race and helped the Vikings to the team championship.
Contributed photo/Beth Alden
Tim Freme leads this pack of runners during the third race of the Caribou Invitational Cross Country Meet, held Saturday. Freme won this race in 15:57.13 on the 2.73-mile course, one of three Caribou runners to take individual race victories. The Vikings just got past Ellsworth to take first place in the team standings.
